What is Good Governance?
According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), governance is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).
Good Governance, on the other hand, means the effective, equitable, and responsible use of power to manage economic, political, and social resources in the public sector for the sake of development.
Good governance involves not only the government but also the legislature, judiciary, civil society, the private sector, media, and other formal and informal components.
Good Governance = Transparency + Accountability + Rule of Law
Core Characteristics of Good Governance
According to international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank, the characteristics of good governance are as follows:
- Participation: Active involvement of citizens, including women and marginalized groups.
- Rule of Law: Fair and impartial laws enforced through an independent judicial system.
- Transparency: Free and easy flow of information.
- Responsiveness: Timely and effective delivery of services.
- Consensus-Oriented: Coordination between diverse interests for the collective welfare of society.
- Equity and Inclusiveness: Equal opportunities for all sections of society.
- Efficiency and Effectiveness: Making the best use of resources to achieve desired results.
- Accountability: The responsibility of the government, private sector, and civil society to the public.
Significance
Good governance reduces corruption, protects human rights, and ensures transparent and accountable administration. As a result, it builds and strengthens public trust in institutions.
Would you like me to explain any of these specific characteristics in more detail or provide examples of how they are implemented in a modern democracy?
1. Impact of Good Governance
Good governance ensures equal availability of opportunities, especially for the poor and vulnerable sections. By reducing regional and social inequalities, it accelerates inclusive and peaceful socio-economic development.
Furthermore, it strengthens ethical administrative values such as integrity, honesty, compassion, impartiality, and responsibility, which are vital for ethical public administration.
2. Key Facts About Atal Bihari Vajpayee
- Birth: Born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
- Early Life: Participated in the Quit India Movement (1942) during his student days.
Journalism and Political Journey
- Started his public life as a journalist.
- Joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (predecessor of the BJP) in 1951.
- Played a pivotal role in shaping the politics of the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
- Prime Ministerial Tenures: Served as PM three times: 1996 (13 days), 1998-99 (11 months), and 1999-2004 (full term).
- Also served as Minister of External Affairs and Leader of the Opposition.
Awards and Honours
- Padma Vibhushan (1992) and Bharat Ratna (2015).
- Named India’s “Best Parliamentarian” in 1994.
Role in Nation-Building
- Reforms: Introduced major reforms in Telecom (New Telecom Policy, 1999), Energy (Electricity Act, 2003), and Fiscal Discipline (FRBM Act, 2003).
- Connectivity: Launched the National Highway Development Project (NHDP) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to link markets, villages, and cities.
- Education: Expanded primary education through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
- Strategic Vision: Conducted Pokhran-II (1998) nuclear tests and laid the foundation for space exploration by announcing Chandrayaan-I.
- Global Diplomacy: Addressed the UN General Assembly in Hindi, showcasing India’s cultural values.
3. How is India Promoting Good Governance?
- Digital and e-Governance: Platforms like UMANG, DigiLocker, GeM, and e-Office enable paperless, transparent, and timely service delivery, reducing corruption.
- Transparency Frameworks: The RTI Act 2005, Citizen’s Charters, and Social Audits strengthen public oversight.
- Performance Measurement: The Good Governance Index (GGI) evaluates state performance to promote “Competitive Federalism.”
- Capacity Building: Mission Karmayogi and the iGoT platform focus on continuous skill upgrading for civil servants.
- Rural Development: DAY-NRLM has organized over 10.29 crore rural households into self-help groups. Schemes like PMAY-G (Housing) and BharatNet (Digital connectivity) reduce isolation.
- Independent Bodies: The CAG, Election Commission, and UPSC ensure financial accountability, free elections, and merit-based recruitment.
- Citizen-Centric Delivery: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) reduces fund leakages. The MyGov platform encourages citizen participation in policymaking.
- Judicial Reforms: Expansion of e-Courts and Fast Track Courts to reduce pending cases.
- Decentralization: Strengthening Gram Panchayats and local bodies brings governance closer to citizens.
4. Good Governance Index (GGI)
Launched on December 25, 2019, to assess the administrative performance of States and UTs. The 2020-2021 GGI evaluated governance based on 10 sectors and 58 indicators.
Top Performers (GGI 2020-21):
- Group A States: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa.
- Group B States: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh.
- NE & Hill States: Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram.
- UTs: Delhi.
5. Major Challenges to Good Governance in India
- Economic Insecurity: High unemployment (5.2% in Oct 2025) and inequality (Gini Coefficient 25.5) weaken public trust.
- Ineffective Policymaking: Top-down approaches often ignore local realities.
- Criminalization of Politics: According to ADR, 45% of elected representatives have declared criminal cases.
- Institutional Corruption: Roughly 20% of India’s GDP is spent on public procurement, a sector vulnerable to corruption. India ranked 96th in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
- Judicial Delays: Over 4 crore cases are pending in various courts.
- Weak Accountability: Audit reports (like CAG on PMKVY) have highlighted irregularities like fake training centers and ghost candidates.
- Populism vs. Structural Reform: Political parties often prioritize “freebies” for votes over long-term investment in infrastructure and health.
6. Measures Necessary for Good Governance
- Deepen Citizen Participation: Move from “Jan Andolan” (Mass Movement) to “Jan Sahbhagita” (Mass Participation).
- Focus on the Marginalized: Follow the principle of Antyodaya (uplifting the last person) to achieve Sarvodaya (progress for all).
- Empower Local Governments: Provide adequate funds, functions, and functionaries (3 Fs) to Panchayats.
- Simplify Processes: Implement “Single-Window” systems like Kerala’s FRIENDS model.
- Promote Ethical Governance: Enforce Zero Tolerance toward corruption and implement the recommendations of the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC).
- Judicial Capacity: Use AI-based case management and Virtual Courts for minor offenses.
- Gati Shakti for Bureaucracy: Transition from a “rule-based” to a “role-based” approach through Mission Karmayogi.
Minimum Government + Maximum Governance → Citizen Empowerment → Good Governance